Utah State gymnastics was picked sixth in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Gymnastics Poll.

Jan. 4, 2013

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State gymnastics was picked sixth in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Gymnastics Poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and announced Thursday by the conference office.

After a year away, Boise State is back in the WAC and has been picked to finish first, garnering 25 total points and five first-place votes. Denver, the 2012 conference champions, were voted in second place with 21 points, including one first-place vote. Southern Utah was picked third with 16 points, followed by Sacramento State with 11. San Jose State was picked to finish in fifth place with 10 total points, with USU rounding out the poll with seven points.

"We're excited for a very competitive season in the WAC. Last year we felt like we had a great year and conference meet even though we finished fifth. We had a lot of personal bests and competed well," said head coach Jeff Richards. "We don't really watch the rankings, we just do our thing."

With Boise State back in the WAC mix, conference competition has stepped up a bit, as the Broncos have been tabbed 15th in the preseason Top 25 poll, along with Denver who is starting the season at No. 20. Every WAC school was included in the Top 25 poll, with SUU, Sacramento State, SJSU and USU each listed among others receiving votes.

Utah State returns nine letterwinners from last season, including three all-WAC honorees and two NCAA Regionals participants. The Aggies will open their season at in-state rival BYU on Saturday, Jan. 12. Action will get underway at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on BYUtv.

For USU gymnastics ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Fans can follow the USU Gymnastics' Twitter and Facebook pages - Twitter: www.twitter.com/USUGymnastics and Facebook: Utah State Gymnastics. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.